Dienstag, 27. Dezember 2016

Five brave military
heroes have survived the hell of a Taliban prison to return home—and
take on civilian missions no one else can. They’re the men of ARES
Security. Highly skilled, intimidating, invincible, and one by one,
tested again and again… Lucas St. Clair’s
prestigious family had a political future neatly planned out for him—one
that didn’t include his high school sweetheart, Mia Ramon. Under their
pressure, Lucas gave her up. But since surviving captivity, he’s a
changed man—and a crucial member of ARES Security. When he discovers a
dead man clutching a picture of Mia that bears a threatening message,
his fiercest protective instincts kick in, and he knows he must go to
her.

Mia has never forgiven Lucas for breaking her heart, and
she’s convinced her feelings for him are in the past. But it’s soon
clear that isn’t true for either of them. Now, determined to solve the
crime and keep Mia safe, with his ARES buddies backing him up, Lucas
will have to reconstruct the murder victim’s last days—and follow a
lethal trail that leads right back to the fate of the woman he still
loves…

Wow, this book was amazing! I simply couldn't put it down but walked around with my kindle and tried to get my chores done while reading.
Lucas and Mia are wonderful characters and despite being a teeny tiny bit upset with Lucas for breaking Mia's heart, I came to understand his actions and could (almost) forgive him, especially as he has obviously learned from his past. And Mia - well, how could one not like Mia? She ist just sweet and, well, awesome.
But it's not just Lucas and Mia but all the side characters as well that are complex and interesting as well as authentic. I really loved the other members of ARES and the way they all care for each other and protect each other. Every one of them is very special in his own way and I loved to get to know them.
And don't forget about the story - this story was thrilling and captivating and I just had to read on and on and on and ...... Amazing! Many unexpected twists and turns, a wonderful and suspenseful plot - how could I have put this book down?!?
Well written, wonderful characters and a great plot - I loved this book!

And, well, do you know why you don't hear/read from me that often at the moment

and

why Christmas suddenly crept up on me?

THAT's why......

Right at the moment I'm preparing for an exam on January 18th and to say that I'm a bit nervous is putting it very mildly... I read a lot actually when I'm not reading "serious stuff" but the reviews for most of those books will have to wait till "after".

Don't worry though, I'll shower you with reviews then because most of them are already there, I just have to write them down and, well, I need some peace and quiet and whatever for that because right at the moment I resemble rather some kind of energizer bunny...*oops*

So, please bear with me just a little bit longer, evrything will be back to normal after the 18th!

And then I'll also tell you about the rest of our summer trip because I think you left me right in the middle of Dumfries next to one of the most wonderful book shops (okay, there're worse places to be left, aren't there?) but I still had to get further up north and back home so... after the 18th.

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all the best for 2017!

Dienstag, 20. Dezember 2016

Daisy Lansing's ability to transfer images from people's thoughts onto
paper was a novelty she used to trot out to amuse her friends. But when
her “entranced drawing” begins to cause serious trouble for her
guardians, she is banished to the country and forced to marry a man
twice her age. After the joyless wedding, Daisy is determined to bury
forever the strange skill that upended her life. However, she soon finds
herself a widow and in dire financial straits. Suddenly, her curse may
be her one chance at true independence.

Jackson Gallway's
reputation as a rogue has far surpassed his success as a lawyer. In the
wake of yet another scandal, he decides to head west. But before he can
escape Misty Lake, Jax makes a promise to find an elusive killer. When
he encounters a lovely young artist with an unusual talent that could
help him in his search, what he finds is something neither of them can
escape . . .

Wow, this book was really great, it kept me glued to my reader from the first page to the last!
It's not just the story itself but also the characters that make it so special. When circumstances throw them together and they end up married without really knowing each other, Daisy and Jackson are on a very rough road towards marital bliss.

Both of them have issues of their own that make it hard for them to trust and, well, let's say that Jackson's lifstyle up to date hasn't really been that of the potential husband of one's dreams and on top of that he is a wanderer, never meant to sit still and stay in one place. The countryside? Oh, thanks, but no thanks, he's a city guy through and through - married to a young widow living in the countryside. Wellll...things happen, right? Unfortunately that doesn't mean that those things are easy to overcome. Add a murderer on the loose, an orphan in danger and Daisy's very special talent of transfering images from peoples' thoughts onto paper and you get a brilliant story full of suspense and twists and turns that keeps you captivated till the end.

I really really enjoyed reading this book and its wonderful heroine and hero and I know that this wasn't the last time that I've read this book and even though it was the first book by Thomasine Rappold that I've read, it won't be the last time by her.

Mittwoch, 7. Dezember 2016

When hardened gamester
Marcus Revington wins Horngate Manor in a card game, he's delighted to
finally own property, and undeterred when he learns he must marry the
heiress of the estate to claim it.

The heiress, Penny
Montgomery, is happy with her life raising horses at Horngate and has no
desire to wed anyone. When she discovers what her guardian has done,
she comes up with a scheme to convince Marcus she's unsuitable as a wife
so he'll give up his plan to marry her.

Who will win in this battle of wits and wills? Or will they both discover the name of the game is love?

I've had this book on my wishlist for a long time. Every time I wanted to buy it, I stopped before the deed was done because I wasn't really sure what to expect. I really love the cover, I think that it is beautiful but I wasn't sure if the cover or the blurb was an indication of the content. Sure, the blurb tells us what all of this is about but it doesn't tell us whether the emphasis is on the erotic part indicated by the cover (and somehow contradicted by the story told in the blurb) or on the story.

Actually it is a mixture of both I think. It has this captivating and really nice story about Penny and Marcus who fall for each other despite their very rocky start with Penny being part of her cousin's loss at the card tables and it also has a lot of rather steamy content. Tastefully written and sweet but a lot of it nonetheless. I must admit that I skipped several pages every now and then because of that. I wanted to read more of the story and how that turned out and less how compatible they are in bed. (They are, don't worry about that!)

I would have loved it better if the emphasis had been more on the story itself and the battle between hero and heroine and less on their mutual sexual attraction and its consequences. It was a nice story but it could have been much more as the characters are really great and I really enjoyed their verbal sparring.

Dienstag, 6. Dezember 2016

Miranda MacDonnell
is on the run. When she inherited a mysterious relic from her mother,
she had no idea the dangers it would bring. Now hunted by a relentless
foe who will stop at nothing to find her, she has one choice: stow away
on the ship of the notorious privateer, Black Hawk.Rob Hawkins,
the half-English privateer known as Black Hawk, has a mission from the
Tudor king to find and kill the rogue commander, Sir Ralph Evers. To
complete his quest, Hawk must find Miranda, a young woman Evers is
pursuing. Caught in a tempest, he is shipwrecked with a "boy" who
demonstrates an uncanny ability for saving him. Cast away on the
mysterious Isle of the Dead, Hawk realizes that the "boy" traveling with
him is actually Miranda MacDonnell and having her means that Evers will
come to him. What begins as a ploy —using her as bait—soon changes,
however, as he falls in love with her.
Ancient forces are at work,
drawing the four possessors of the relic’s power to the Isle of the
Dead in the Outer Hebrides for a final battle where good must overcome
the forces of evil in this spectacular finale to the Scottish Relic
Trilogy.

I really
loved this captivating and highly enjoyable last book in the Scottish Relic
Series by May McGoldrick. Historical Romance books by May McGoldrick are those
that I buy without even looking at the blurb because up to now they have never
disappointed me.

Once
again the hero and the heroine were wonderful, well developed, very likeable
and also very interesting. Especially the contrast between Miranda whose life
has always been dominated by the unexplainable, the mystic and Rob who doesn't
believe in anything that he can't touch makes them an interesting couple, even
more whn Miranda has to draw on all of her definitely not touchable and
inexplainable knowledge of the future to try to keep Rob alive and well.

Easier
said than done, obviously, with a man like him and of course with all those
enemies around. Not very healthy surroundings for a man like Rob. Alas, Evers
is still searching for the other relics and uses all of his power to find
Miranda so it is not only Rob who is in danger.

Evers…everybody
who has read the other books of the series won't have forgotten him. His search
for the other parts of the Wheel of Lugh is intense and brutal. He won't give
up till he has found them all.

Will
Miranda, Innes and Kenna be able to protect their powers and stop Evers?

A
wonderful book and a great finale to another great series by May McGoldrick,
I'm already looking forward to future books by these amazing authors!

The lifeblood of the Wiltshire village of Ivy Hill is its coaching inn,
The Bell. But when the innkeeper dies suddenly, his genteel wife, Jane
Bell, becomes the reluctant owner. Jane has no notion of how to run a
business. However, with the town's livelihood at stake and a large loan
due, she must find a way to bring new life to the inn.

Despite
their strained relationship, Jane turns to her resentful mother-in-law,
Thora, for help. Formerly mistress of The Bell, Thora is struggling to
find her place in the world. As she and Jane work together, they form a
measure of trust, and Thora's wounded heart begins to heal. When she
encounters two men from her past, she sees them--and her future--in a
different light.

With pressure mounting from the bank, Jane
employs innovative methods to turn the inn around, and puzzles over the
intentions of several men who seem to have a vested interest in the
place. Will her efforts be enough to save The Bell? And will Thora
embrace the possibility of a second chance at love?

I really enjoyed reading this book with its unusual and complex story and its interesting and authentic characters.
From the moment Jane "wakes up" and starts to realise that the inn is in danger and what its loss would mean for the whole village till the last page I feared and felt with her. I was upset when some people showed their true colors and I cried a little bit with her, when things got too rough. On the other hand there were those who did their best to help her and the inn and I love how Jane and Thora slowly found a way to trust each other and to care. Seeing Jane grow into someone who cares and who takes over responsibility, who is accepted and respected by her neighbors was great.

But it wasn't just Jane and Thora but also the many minor characters that made the book remarkable. All of them are complex and authentic and you just have to like them - and then there are those that make you feel wary and you want to protect Jane and all those around her from them and what they could do to the inn and its people.

Apart from the story itself I also liked how it showed the interaction between the people of a village and its businesses and how it makes you understand why all of them rely on each other and that this is how a community is built. The success of your own business is related to the success of the other businesses around you. And it is also a book about family, about friendship and loyalty and about love and caring for someone.

Lady
Lucia Crossclyffe can’t resist the charms of Marquess of Rillington, a
holiday visitor to her isolated island home. Little does she guess that
he’s come there to ruin her . . .Christmas Truce by Karen Frisch

After
years of being presumed dead, Major Jeremy Stanhope has come home from
the war. His first order of business – to propose to Lady Rosalie
Partington, the woman who’s waited for him all these years. Only Rosalie
is already betrothed . . . to the traitor who left him for dead!Miss Montague’s Mistletoe Match by Sharon Sobel

Charles Hudson, the
Earl of Westerly, has come to Windermere for Christmas with one
intention – to offer for the woman whose letters have captivated him for
the last year. But is the letter-writer the woman he thinks she is?

These
four sweet stories are the perfect choice to get in the mood for christmas and
the holiday season. They are charming, well written and every one of them is
just the perfect mixture of sweetness and some suspense. The problems
"our" heroes and heroines encounter are not insurmountable and even
though those problems arise the reader never fears that something really bad
would happen.

Of course
this may sound a bit …well, boring, I guess…but it isn't because this is exactly the
kind of story that you want to read when you're sitting in front of a cozy fire
in your most comfortable armchair with a cup of tea or hot chocolate at your
side while the snow keeps falling outside. Something light and sweet,
dependably positive and charming that reminds you of the spirit of christmas.
No need for the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present or Future - you just need
those stories to remind you what christmas feels like or at least what it
should feel like -cozy, sweet and peaceful with the certainty that you can
overcome all obstacles.

At least
that's what I expect when I read a christmas story and that's definitely what I
got when I read these stories!

Dienstag, 29. November 2016

When
handsome Lord Chatham rescued the golden-haired Ondine from England’s
gallows, he demanded only one thing in return . . . her hand in
marriage. In gratitude, Ondine consented to his plans—yet refused his
touch.

Though his smoldering desire aroused her own secret
longings, Ondine defied her mysterious husband. Until suddenly, in the
notorious court of Charles II, the sapphire-eyed beauty was plunged into
a web of danger and desire, jealousy, and romance. As secrets exploded,
and swords clashed in vengeance, the strangers in marriage became
partners in passion, and lovers on fire . . .

When I wrote my review for Heather Graham's book "When we touch", my last sentence was that this "was the first but definitely not the last book by Heather Graham that I have read". After having read "Ondine" I know that this sentence is still true - and that I'll definitely have to read her earlier books as well.

"Ondine" was a book that I rarely put down because it captivated me from the first page on.
Warwick, the fierce and hard Lord of Chatham captured my heart right at the beginning - and tested my patience almost till the end. Rough, hard but honorable to the core even when I just wanted to kick him because, you know, sometimes it is advisable to open your eyes instead of suffering for nothing just because it seems the honorable thing to do. Talking might help as well of course but hey, he is a man. Guess, that says it all, doesn't it?
Nymph or gallow's bride - or both? Ondine barely escaped the hangman's noose at Tyburn Tree and she should be grateful for that and concede to her husband's wishes as it is little enough that he expects from her in exchange for her rescue. If it weren't for her own secrets and her own history it might have been easier, certainly the role he expected her to play was easy enough to play but when feelings interfere and old wrongs have to be righted, well, then things definitely get much more complicated!

Like "When we touch" , this book is also much more complex than I had expected it to be. Once again I found a wonderful, thrilling and captivating story full of suspense with complex, interesting and authentic characters and a great story line. When I browsed through the book while writing this review, I found myself engrossed in it once more.
I really really enjoyed reading this book and I know that I'm already looking forward to future books from Heather Graham!

Montag, 28. November 2016

At a house party in the countryside, the joyful spirit of the Christmas
season threatens to sweep Georgiana Trent under the mistletoe—and back
into the arms of the dashing rogue who broke her heart two years ago.
Little does she know that Lucas Godwin has no intention of leaving until
he has reclaimed her as his own.

Alright, I loved this novella but I must admit that there were times when I was so furious when I was reading it that I almost threw my kindle at the wall. How can somebody be so calculating, ruthless and so mean and so...argh.
Okay, okay, right, I mean, it is a christmas story so I was sure that I'd get my HEA for Georgiana and Lucas but it wasn't that easy to get there, believe me.

Of course it is never easy to meet a former love especially if the parting was rather abrupt and left many questions open and even more if you should just by some umwelcome twist of fate find yourself and said former love as co-hosts to a bunch of very important strangers.
Right, exactly what happened to Georgiana and Lucas one not that very wonderful christmas. At least in the beginning it wasn't that wonderful but fortunately after a rather rough start the two of them start to talk to each other and discover some answers to those aforementioned questions.

I loved that the hero and the heroine really talk to each other and don't jump from one misunderstanding to the next and I loved that they found their way back to what they had two years ago and that they still care for each other the way they did.
This is a very nice and sweet christmas story, well written with loveable characters that I really enjoyed.

Dienstag, 22. November 2016

With Cait Campbell hiding Scottish fugitives from the British crown, who
should arrive wearing his English-style coat but Iain Campbell, the
traitorous clan leader and the man responsible for her husband's death.
Iain seeks a healer for his fallen kinsman, and out of a sense of duty
Cait is obliged to help. Her uncanny ability to read people is powerless
against his dark, impassive gaze, yet Iain is kind in a way that moves
her.

In Cait's company, Iain is overcome by painful memories
of his best friend, her husband, who died protecting him. But grief
shows weakness—a luxury he cannot permit, because Iain is playing a
dangerous game with the British army. One small misstep and he could be
branded a traitor or executed as a spy. But even with political tensions
mounting to a fever pitch, Iain can't get Cait out of his mind. What he
doesn't know is that Cait is playing a deep and deadly game of her own,
and their love could put everything—even Scotland itself—in peril.

As much as I loved MacLean's Passion, the second book in the Highland Pride Series by Sharon Cullen, I must admit that this third book, Campbell's Redemption is even better! Once started, I couldn't put the book down and I enjoyed every single page of it right from the beginning right up to the last page.

The Campbell and I - well, I wasn't really sure what to think of him, when I read MacLean's Passion and I wasn't sure whether "we" could trust him or not but in this book and its story he really redeems himself and all his actions.
I felt with him, when things went bad, I fought my tears, I smiled and I was furious while I read this wonderful and well written story about the Campbell and Cait, the widow of his former first. Reading how Cait slowly starts to trust life, reading about Ian's love for her - how could I have put the book down before knowing that everythins truly and really ends well?!? Well, as well as one can expect in such times.

That was another thing that I loved about this book. It is not just a love story even though that story and its characters are amazing but it also tells a bit more about the English and their rule in Scotland after Culloden.

Usually we are almost exclusively made aware of the horrible losses and the terrible treatment of the Scots at the hands of the English. You can find all of that in this book as well, you read about the injustice, the horror, the refugees and the helplessness of the people but in this book you also get an idea what other possiblities there might have been, an idea how the Scots might even have profited from a cooperation with the English, at least on a small scale, how further tragedies might have been avoided - all the time knowing that in the end the worst happened and the clans were demolished and the Scots' weapons were taken.
Nevertheless, it was good to get another perspective that never tried to minimize the horror and the loss but that tried to give hope.

Well written and well plotted, amazing, complex characters - this book has it all and I can wholeheartedly recommend it!

Mittwoch, 16. November 2016

As an orphaned child,
Jane Eyre is first cruelly abused by her aunt, then cast out and sent to
a charity school. Though she meets with further abuse, she receives an
education, and eventually takes a job as a governess at the estate of
Edward Rochester. Jane and Rochester begin to bond, but his dark moods
trouble her. When Jane uncovers the terrible secret Rochester has been
hiding, she flees and finds temporary refuge at the home of St. John
Rivers.

My teenaged daughter loves Manga and we love british classics so this Manga obviously was a must. The first thing my daughter said was that it was really sweet. It is a Manga alright but it captures the essence and the story of the book very well. Despite the story being a classic, in this form it is fresh and lively and fun to read.

I have read many classics, including the original "Jane Eyre" but I always love to read good adaptions of a book that I enjoyed. Another perspective, another media in this case as well and it feels familiar and brand-new at the same time.

This adaption is a wonderful way to get to know the story for those who don't like to read the original story by Charlotte Bronte but would like to know more than just the movie all the same. Classics are not everybody's cup of tea and if you don't like the style or just can't get into it, it is nice to have an alternative. This Manga is indeed an alternative in such a case but it is also a wonderful addition if you already know the original and liked the story.
The drawings are well done and beautiful, my daughter and I both enjoyed them and the whole book immensely!

If you love classics, if you love Manga or if you just want to know if you could love the classics, this book and - I dare say - this whole Manga Classics Series is definitely worth a look!

Dienstag, 15. November 2016

Lawrence Sutherland,
Royal Navy Captain and the Viscount of Glenrith, has just struck a
devil’s bargain. To save his family from financial ruin, he needs the
help of his closest childhood friend, Violette. They must work together
so he can gain the hand of her wealthy but spoiled heiress cousin and
make a mutually beneficial marriage—a sound business arrangement for
them both. In return for her help, Lawrence offers Violette the one
thing she covets most—freedom. With his help, she can leave England and
her cruel family behind.

But there is a vital flaw in this
near-perfect plan. Violette Pélet de Castelmarou is secretly in love
with Lawrence and has hidden it for years. Yet now she finds herself
feeding him lines and coaching him through sticky social situations in
order to win over her cousin. But when emotions get involved, hearts
become inextricably entangled.

When the time comes, will
Lawrence be able to say goodbye to Violette or will he compromise her
virtue and make her his forever?

I'm not completely sure how much I like this book.
I was so furious sometimes because the hero just behaved like an insensitive, egoistical ...erm, let's say... idiot. Yes, an idiot because he is so convinced to do the right thing and that he has to suffer just to help and that he has to act selflessly and in the end, well, right, he loves her, that's why he hurt her with his stupid, absolutely egoistical and ...argh...well, idiotic ways. There's nothing selfless and just suffering because you behaved like a boar doesn't make it better. I might have thought better of him if at least in the end it would have been totally clear that it is the love for the heroine that gets him to use his brain again but that's only a part of it. He just realises what he doesn't want and what is not worth his interest and that it might be better to pursue the one he loves. Well done, right? NO.It might have been easier to deal with all this, if I hadn't taken Violette to my heart almost from the moment I "met" her. Violette is so sweet and life has been so hard for her that I just wanted to protect her because the one she loved and who supposedly loved her, our friend and hero Lawrence, didn't really do a good job of it. Well, all is well, that ends well, isn't it? So I guess, on the whole the book is good. It is well written and despite being a bit (more) upset every now and then, I really enjoyed reading it.

To escape the memory of a horrific kidnapping that he barely
survived, Alexander Linscott, Marquess of Halverston, flees
to one of his country estates determined to master his demons. But when Mrs. Daisy
Moore arrives on his doorstep applying for the position of housekeeper, he
knows his life has taken an unexpected turn. She is clearly not who she
pretends to be.

Lady Isobel Culver has no intention of
falling in love. She’s on the run and can’t afford to risk giving her heart to
anyone, especially a man as tortured as the Marquess of Halverston. But when
fate intervenes and brings her to the altar with the murderous villain her father
intends for her to marry, Alexander becomes the only man who can save her. If
loving her doesn’t cost him his life first.

I read the other books of this series already and loved them and I read many many other books by Laura Landon as well so it wasn't such a big surprise that I also loved "Dark Ruby" and have already reread this book as well as the other books of this series.

It is not just the interesting and varying stories and the wonderful, multi-facetted characters that I love but also the way those characters interact, how they care for each other how they help each other and how authentic and unique each of them is.

This book is about Alexander, the Marquess of Halverston, whose kidnapping was part of "Ransomed Jewels", the first book of the series. While Claire and Barnaby along with Major Bennett tried everything to get him out of there alive, they couldn't prevent him to suffer horribly at the hands of his kidnappers. Hoping that some distance and peace will help him fight his demons, he flees to one of his estate where he meets Daisy Moore, his new housekeeper - and a woman who is running from her own demons.

It is wonderful to see how slowly those two start to trust and to help each other and how love helps them overcome their demons. Again Claire, Major Bennett and Barnaby are there to lend their support and to do whatever is necessary to help those they love.

I really really enjoyed reading this book and couldn't put it down - and when I read the last page I just started to reread the whole series.

The British Table: A New Look at the Traditional Cooking of England, Scotland, and Wales
celebrates the best of British cuisine old and new. Drawing on a vast
number of sources, both historical and modern, the book includes more
than 150 recipes, from traditional regional specialties to modern
gastropub reinventions of rustic fare. Dishes like fish pie, braised
brisket with pickled walnuts, and a pastry shop full of simple,
irresistible desserts have found their way onto modern British
menus—delicious reminders of the depth and breadth of Britain’s culinary
heritage. The book blends these tradition-based reinventions by some of
the finest chefs in England, Scotland, and Wales with forgotten dishes
of the past worthy of rediscovery.

Wow - an abundance of amazing and easy-to-follow recipes, great pictures and wonderful texts to go with the recipes, relaying historical facts or anecdotes connected to those recipes or the food discussed, personal stories to go with them or ... just wonderful stories or interesting facts that make you browse this book and read a bit here and there as if it was a novel.

This book is interesting and captivating to read and it is a collection of marvellous recipes that are well presented and just want you to grab your cooking spoon and do some serious cooking. All you ever wanted to know about british food and much more that you never thought of, can be found in this wonderful book. And if you don't want to read - well, never mind, just look at the pictures! If you weren't hungry before you started reading, believe me, one look at the photos andthat will change!

I really really love this book and I'm looking forward to trying many more of the recipes!

*Just a note - this book is obviously not a book for vegetarians

but it is a wonderful collection for all those who love traditional british food.*

Dienstag, 8. November 2016

Three-hundred-and-sixty-four
days a year, Allison Carmichael doesn’t mind being single. It sure
beats dating another loser, and it keeps her heart safe. Then there’s
that three-hundred-and-sixty-fifth day: Christmas Eve, the traditional
time her entire family gathers together—and gangs up on her, demanding
to know when she’s going to get married. This year, she swears, is going
be different. And that’s why, at a charity auction she’s throwing
on-base, she buys herself a man.

Sergeant Troy Matthews
insists that he’s not for sale. His time is, though, and he’s happy to
donate it. Happier still when he learns the identity of the winning
bidder: the redhead with the killer good looks and smart mouth who runs
the veteran’s center. Allison needs Troy’s help to fool her family into
believing they’re an item, and he’s all too happy to indulge her. But by
the time Christmas Eve rolls around, their little charade is working a
little too well . . . because Troy’s falling head over heels.

Welcome Home for Christmas is one of those "Feel-Good-Stories" that are an essential part of all this chrismas-feeling going on at this time of the year. Who doesn't love a sweet and romantic version of the Christmas Carol (especially with a Marine who definitely doesn't resemble Scrooge at all and a heroine who is, well, better looking and sweeter than Scrooge's nephew either)?

The story is well plotted and well written. It made me laugh and swoon and of course, it also made me roll my eyes - just the way a good romance should. I really enjoyed reading it and I loved to see how Troy and Allison find their way to each other despite all the well meant advice given to them and their own personal insecurities.

A heartwarming, wonderful story, great characters and a big basket full of christmas feelings - just right for a nice evening at home, snuggled up in your favorite chair with a nice cup of tea at your side.

Lucien, the Earl of Stenfax has been engaged twice, but only in love
once. That was with his childhood sweetheart, Elise. When she threw him
over for a man with more money and a higher ranking title, it broke him.
Now she’s widowed and he finds himself drawn to her again, like a moth
to her flame.

Elise
had her reasons for walking away from Lucien, reasons he doesn’t
understand. Back in Society, she’s now financially desperate and is even
considering becoming someone’s mistress. But Lucien keeps appearing at
the most inopportune moments and it’s only a matter of time before the
desire between them explodes.

Time
will tell if Lucien will be able to see past his lusty drive for
revenge. And if Elise can convince him she’s worthy of more, despite the
past.

I've read many books by Jess Michaels already and loved each and everyone of them. This one, which is the third in the "Seasons"-series, is every bit as amazing as the other ones. Those of you who have read the wonderful "An Affair in Winter" or " A Spring Deception" already know most of the main characters - and I'm sure that you'll love to see what becomes of Lucien and Elise whose former engagement and its unfortunate ending were the driving force behind Grant's involvement in "An Affair in Winter" which led him to Rosalinde.

(Oh, by the way - if you haven't read the other books in this series, yet, you shouldn't miss out on them, zhey are amazing and sweet!)

Soo, it's Lucien and Elise now and obviously, considering everything that went down between them, it is not easy for them to reconnect no matter what their traiterous feelings and their bodies might think. Of course it is not just Lucien himself, Elise has to confront but also his family. A family that felt like her own years ago and who despise her now. Adding a miserable marriage, a widowhood without a pence to her name and an heir of her husband's who threatens her...perfect, isn't it? Well, that's why Elise is desperate and looking for help in places where Lucien doesn't want to see her...
Some chemistry can't be denied, as Lucien will find out for sure.

What I really love about Jess Michael's stories is not just that they are well written and keep me glued to my reader from the beginning to the very end of the book but also that they all have a unique touch. Sure, they are romances and I expect a hero and a heroine with a difficult courtship of some kind but every book of hers has its own story and you don't get the feeling that you've read it all before. "One Summer of Surrender" is no exception there. It is a book that made me smile and laugh and *coughs slightly* swear at the stupidity of men in general and Lucien in particular and maybe there might even have been a tear or two at times...

Montag, 7. November 2016

On her 25th birthday,
Charlotte Appleby receives a most unusual gift from the Faerie godmother
she never knew she had: the ability to change shape.

Penniless
and orphaned, she sets off for London to make her fortune as a man. But a
position as secretary to Lord Cosgrove proves unexpectedly challenging.
Someone is trying to destroy Cosgrove and his life is increasingly in
jeopardy.

As Charlotte plunges into London’s backstreets and
brothels at Cosgrove’s side, hunting his persecutor, she finds herself
fighting for her life—and falling in love…

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. It is not just well written and has amazing, authentic characters but it is also imaginative and very special. You know, this touch of something different that makes an ordinary story like "she loves him, he loves her and thy find each other against all odds" rather special and something that captivates you.

First I was a bit wary because I wasn't sure, considering the part about faeries and shape shifting and such stuff, if the book wouldn't be a bit too fantastic because I was in a mood for something decidedly romantic. Well, it is romantic - and much more. This book took me on a ride on an emotional roller coaster with the romantic parts (and others) and at the same time I loved how natural the shape shifting part was. It just fits in, people get used to it and it is just a means to an end - and of course it is fun as well. Who did never dream of flying, for example?

The book touches sensitive subjects in an equally sensitive way. Sometimes I was furious, I was shocked, I was sad - alright, there might have been a tear or two - and I was also very happy and a bit (more) sentimental.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can definitely recommend it!

Governess Eve Merton
would have fallen into serious trouble on her walk home if a handsome
stranger had not stopped to help her. But when Mr. Vernon gives her a
lift on his horse, he makes no secret of his attraction. As a well
brought-up young lady, Eve does her best not to notice, but when he sets
about courting her, she knows she’s in trouble. For she has a secret:
she is the daughter of a deposed king, which means not only is she
without a dowry, but also that her life is in danger…

Little
does Eve know that Mr. Vernon has secrets of his own. In truth, his name
is Julius, Lord Winterton, and he’s well aware that Eve is the
offspring of the Old Pretender. In order to save his sister, he must
convince Eve to wed—though he wants nothing to do with love. But as the
two grow closer and an attempt is made on Eve’s life, Julius may realize
that fighting his heart’s true desire is a battle most pleasurably
surrendered…

I can't say how often I've read "Rogue in Red Velvet" already, the first book in the "Emperors of London"-Series and I've never realised that it is a whole (wonderful) series! Well, naturally I've tried to make up for this oversight since I've found out. "Veiled in Blue" is actually the sixth book in the series and I loved it as much as I loved "Rogue in Red Velvet".

When I started to read "Veiled in Blue", I was thrilled to meet some of my favorite characters from the "Rogue" again right at the beginning. Even though this story is the story of Julius, Lord Winterton whom we met already in "Rogue in Red Velvet" and Eve Merton, another one of the descendants of the last Stuart King of Britain, we get to meet several of the other Emperors from the former books and find out how their stories went on.

A well plotted and interesting story with wonderful, complex characters and an author who definitely knows how to write - and how to write well- this book captured me right from the first page on and kept me glued to my reader till the very last page. And then I went and bought the next book (backwards) in the series because I just had to know what happend to everyone between the first and the sixth book. I'm still working on it but this
series as well as this book are really highly recommendable. Each of the books can be read as a stand-alone but I guess that my example shows that this won't do for long and that you'll probably want to read all the others as well once you've started.

Samstag, 5. November 2016

For Lord Henry
Marlow, the future Earl of Barrington, life is for living before he
accepts his duty. No wager is too risky or challenge too dangerous –
until a racing injury forces the Barrington heir to return home and
prepare for his destiny. But the one thing Henry will not do is bow to
his parents’ wishes and propose to his childhood friend and neighbour,
beautiful Alethea Forth. And he’ll not put up with her disapproving
sister, Susan, either, no matter how much he enjoys their verbal
sparring…Kind-hearted, bookish Susan Forth has always thought
Henry arrogant and self-centred, and has never hidden her dislike of the
rogue! But this injured, vulnerable Henry reluctantly brings out her
natural compassion, and a shocking desire for the man who is expected to
marry her sister! A stolen kiss leads to a forbidden passion – and for
the first time in her life, Susan knows what it’s like to be reckless –
with a man who is finally learning to care.But when tragedy strikes, their secret love is all that holds them together – and could tear their lives apart…

This was again a book that I really enjoyed and that made me laugh and cry and grin and...well, you get what I mean.

When Lord Henry Marlow comes back to his parents estate to recuperate after a near fatal accent, Alethea is already waiting for him. And she is waiting for a proposal. Impatiently. Even though they have known each other since childhood and have been meant for each other since then, they are not officially betrothed, yet, and Henry doesn't really want to change this status.
While he slowly heals he gets to know Susan, Alethea's sister much better, whom she always took for granted and for whom he never really cared much as she always disaproved of him and everything he did. Susan has forever lived in her sister's shadow but somehow things start to change and for the first time Henry really sees her. And the more he really gets to know her, the more he falls for her. Hard. Now there's just the question if there could be a future for them as Althea still considers him hers.....

I really loved to see the change in both, the hero and the heroine. Henry, who becomes more aware of those around him and Susan who slowly steps out of her sister's shadow and blossoms. The characters are well developed and authentic, the side characters as well as the main characters. The story is interesting, well spun and well told. The moment I finished the book I looked for other books by Jane Lark so, well, I can definitely recommend this book..

England, 1820. To gain a
certain marquess’s notice, Lady Albina Beauchamp aims to win the derby.
What she hadn’t planned for is the price handsome Mr. Edmund White asks
in payment to train her to race: each lesson for a kiss.

A first place finish isn't the only thing worth racing for

Lady
Albina Beauchamp is in love with the Marquess of Satterfield.
Unfortunately, his only interest is in horses, and doesn’t know she
exists. But when the marquess confesses he will bestow his undying
admiration on the jockey racing the winning horse at Emberton Derby,
Albina sets out to win his affections by training to race.

Mr.
Edmund White is a master groomsmen for the Earl of Amhurst in line for a
viscountcy, should he abandon his passion for horses and become a
respectable sheep owner. But horses are his love--until he meets Lady
Albina and her silly notions of racing. When she affirms she will enter
the derby with or without his assistance, Edmund not only instructs his
student in racing, but seduction as well.

For Albina, a first
place finish isn’t the only thing at stake. She must decide whether to
take her place in society...or follow her heart and love a groom.

Just a short impression because I really didn't know what to make of this book. I have already read another
book by Frances Fowlkes and liked that alright but somehow this one and I
didn't get along. The story sounded intriguing and the writing was okay
but I really couldn't get into it. I started to read it several times
and never got really far because I lost interest. In the end, when I
finally finished it, it was on the whole a, well, a nice story but it
lacked some substance and some real action. Unfortunately the characters
lacked substance as well and couldn't make up for the lack of action.
They were very likeable but rather one-dimensional instead of complex. I
wasn't sure how to rate it because I'm not sure if we just got of on
the wrong foot because it is well written, so I settled down for three
very weak stars.

Blurb:One eligible bachelor, three beautiful women, one family rivalry…

When
the Countess of Nevern writes to say that her son, Viscount Pamyngton,
is unexpectedly returning home to Nevern Hall, Lady Denham sees a
perfect opportunity for one of her daughters to capture him in holy
matrimony.

The only question is which girl will he choose?

Of
the three Denham girls currently out in society, Eleanor is deemed the
most attractive, even if she is rather young, and quite fancies the idea
of marrying Pamyngton and becoming the next Countess of Nevern.

Louisa,
the eldest, cares not a jot for Pamyngton or his title, as her heart
lies elsewhere — she is hopelessly in love with a clergyman whose meagre
living makes him an entirely unsuitable suitor.

And Catherine
is an impetuous little minx, who often speaks without thinking and is
far too flighty to be the wife of a viscount!

This is not the first time a union between Nevern and Denham has been contemplated.

Plans
were once made for a marriage between Pamyngton and Fanny Denham, the
oldest of the six Denham girls, but when the viscount fell madly in love
with the beautiful Georgiana Eversley, the wedding was cancelled.

Fanny
is now happily married to a colonel and residing in Brighton — and
Louisa, Catherine, and Eleanor have been greatly looking forward to
visiting their sister on a bit of a holiday.

But Pamyngton’s arrival at Nevern Hall throws these intentions into disarray.

Lady Denham has absolutely no intention of letting any of her girls out of her sight as long as Pamyngton remains nearby.

But Catherine has other ideas and determines that she shall just have to make her way to Brighton herself.

Her
adventure quickly runs afoul as she discovers the dangers of being a
solitary young woman walking the roads with neither protection nor
money.

So when a mysterious stranger helps her to return home unscathed she is deeply grateful.

However,
Catherine is mortified to discover the next day that her handsome
stranger is the very same Viscount Pamyngton that her mother desires her
to marry.

Desperate to avoid further embarrassment, she does her best to avoid Pamyngton all together.

But it’s only when he starts to take an interest in her older sister Louisa that Catherine realises her true feelings.

Is she already too late…?

When Viscount Pamyngton returns home, he is a bit astonished to learn that his mother, the Countess of Nevern, is setting him up to get married. She and her friend Lady Denham think that he'd do well to marry one of the many daughters of Lady Denham. I mean, five girls still unattached call for desperate measures, don't they? And the same counts for an unmarried son of 30 who shows no intention of changing his marital status, obviously, at least according to his mother. That's why the poor daughters of Lady Denham are not allowed to go to Brighton as promised.Now we come to said desperate measures again because not all of the young ladies are content to sit around and wait for a certain Viscount instead of going to Brighton. So that's how Catherine Denham ends up being rescued by Viscount Pamyngton when she tries to travel on her own to Brighton. Due to this rescue those two get to know each other rather well - and, well, let's say that at least one (or maybe even both) of them wouldn't mind to deepen this relationship but alas...nothing is ever that easy, is it?I really loved the well developed characters in this book, especially Catherine, the second eldest of the "available" daughters who cares for each and every one, gets upset very easily but gets over it just as easily either. Her spirited and forgiving nature paired with her natural wit turned her very quickly into my favorite characters but her elder sister Louisa was very sweet as well - and I must admit that I was a bit upset to see how she was suffering because she is not allowed to be with the one man she really loves. Viscount Pamyngton was also a very charming and nice character whom I liked a lot.The story itself is reliable and apart from some twists foreseeable but in a good way. It is not just another one of "those stories" with exchangeable characters but you get the kind of story you expect and it is the characters and the wonderful telling of the story that make the difference and turn it in an interesting reading experience that you'll enjoy and cherish, at least that's what I did.